Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are designed for users to inhale nicotine without most of the harmful effects of smoking. They deliver nicotine by heating and vapourising a solution that typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol and/or glycerine, and flavourings. As there’s no burning involved, there’s no smoke. Whilst the use of e-cigs is not without health risk, it is thought to be far less hazardous than smoking cigarettes. It is estimated to be 95% less harmful than smoking tobacco.
Research shows that e-cigs can help someone to give up smoking. If you want to use an e-cig to help you quit, you’ll give yourself the best chance if you also get expert support from our OneLife stop smoking service. We offer an e-cig friendly service and can offer support to e-cig users who are keen to use it as a means of quitting smoking. You can also use NRT on top of the e-cig, although e-cigs will not be supplied by our service. At present, the stop smoking service is only available to people who smoke tobacco and who are using an e-cig or want to use an e-cig to help them quit tobacco.
E-cigs are widely available across the country, but under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations of 2016, they are not allowed to be sold to people under the age of 18.